N-400 companion guide
Understanding Form N-400 โ plain language, section by section
The N-400 is the Application for Naturalization. Every section is explained here in plain language โ what it is really asking, common mistakes to avoid, and what the interview officer will likely ask you about it.
Important: This guide provides general educational information about Form N-400. It is not legal advice. Immigration law is complex and your situation is unique. If you have any doubt about how to answer a question โ especially in Part 10 (good moral character) โ consult a licensed immigration attorney before submitting your application.
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Part 1 โ Basis for Eligibility
Why you qualify to apply for citizenship
I have been a Lawful Permanent Resident for at least 5 years / at least 3 years (married to a U.S. citizen)
This section asks which eligibility path you are using. Most people qualify through 5 years as a green card holder. If you are married to a U.S. citizen and have been living with them, you may qualify after only 3 years.
Common mistake: Counting from when you received your green card, not when you entered the US. The 5 years begins on the date your green card was approved, shown on your green card as "Resident Since."
You can apply up to 90 days before your 5-year anniversary. You do not have to wait until the exact date.
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Part 2 โ Information About You
Your name, address, and personal details
Current legal name / Name on your green card
Use your name exactly as it appears on your green card โ even if it has a spelling error. Do not "fix" a mistake on the N-400. Note the error separately and bring documentation to your interview.
Name change: If you want to legally change your name at naturalization, you can request this on the N-400. A judge must approve it at your ceremony. This only applies if your state has a ceremony with a judge โ not all do.
Have you used any other names?
List every name you have ever used โ maiden name, name before marriage, name used in another country, nickname used on official documents. Do not leave any out. Officers cross-check records under all names you provide.
Never omit a name. If a name appears in any government record and you did not list it, it looks like you were hiding it โ even if you simply forgot.
Date of birth / Country of birth
Use your birth date exactly as it appears on your passport and green card. If your birth date appears differently on different documents, note this and bring a birth certificate to explain the discrepancy.
Current home address
Use your current physical address โ where you actually live and sleep. A P.O. box is not acceptable here. If your mailing address is different from your home address, you can list both.
Important: If you move after submitting your N-400, notify USCIS within 10 days using the address change process at uscis.gov. Missing your interview notice because USCIS has an old address can delay your case significantly.
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Part 3 โ Citizenship and Contact Information
Your current citizenship status and how to reach you
Current citizenship or nationality
List all countries where you are currently a citizen or national. This includes your country of birth if you still hold that citizenship. Be complete โ dual citizenship is legal and common.
The United States allows dual citizenship in most cases. Becoming a U.S. citizen does not automatically require you to give up your original citizenship โ it depends on your home country's laws. Check with your country's consulate if you are unsure.
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Part 4 โ Residence
Where you have lived for the past 5 years
List every address where you have lived for the past 5 years
List every address in chronological order, most recent first. Include the start and end dates for each address. If you have lived at the same address for 5+ years, you only need to list that one address.
Do not leave gaps. Every month in the past 5 years must be accounted for. If you lived somewhere temporarily โ with family, in a hotel, between apartments โ include it.
Continuous residence
You must have maintained "continuous residence" in the United States for the 5 years before applying. This does not mean you cannot travel โ it means the US must remain your permanent home. Extended trips abroad can break continuous residence.
Trips of 6+ months: A single trip outside the US lasting 6 months or more may break your continuous residence and reset your eligibility clock. Trips of 1+ year generally do break it unless you have a re-entry permit.
Shorter trips are generally fine. The key question is: was the US your permanent home even when you were abroad? If you maintained a home, paid taxes, and kept your job here, you were likely maintaining continuous residence.
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Part 5 โ Travel Outside the United States
Every trip outside the US in the past 5 years
List every trip outside the United States in the past 5 years
For each trip, you need: the country or countries visited, the departure date, the return date, and the total number of days outside the US. Include every trip โ even short ones to Canada or Mexico for a weekend.
Documentation tip: Pull your passport and count the stamps. If you do not have stamps (which happens with Canada and Mexico land border crossings), check your bank records, flight records, or travel emails to reconstruct your dates accurately.
At your interview
The officer will often ask you to confirm your travel history verbally. Know your longest trip and your total days outside the US. If you traveled a lot, practice summarizing it: "I made about X trips total, the longest was X days in [year]."
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Part 6 โ Your Marital History
Current and past marriages
How many times have you been married?
List every marriage โ including marriages that ended in divorce, annulment, or the death of a spouse. Do not count only your current marriage.
Never omit a previous marriage. USCIS checks marriage records. An undisclosed marriage โ even one that ended decades ago โ can be grounds for denying your application for lack of good moral character (misrepresentation).
If applying under the 3-year married rule โ is your spouse a U.S. citizen?
If you are applying after 3 years (rather than 5) because you are married to a U.S. citizen, you must also have been living with that spouse for the entire 3-year period. If you were separated at any point, you may not qualify under this path.
Documents to bring if applying under the 3-year rule
Your spouse's U.S. passport or naturalization certificate
Joint lease, mortgage, or utility bills showing shared address
Joint bank account statements
Tax returns filed jointly
Your marriage certificate
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Part 7 โ Employment and Schools
Where you have worked and studied
List your employers and schools for the past 5 years
Include every employer โ even part-time, temporary, or self-employment. Include schools you attended. If you were unemployed, list "Unemployed" with the dates. If you were a stay-at-home parent, list that.
Gaps in employment are not a problem by themselves. Being honest about them is what matters. "Unemployed, Jan 2022 โ June 2022" is a complete and acceptable answer.
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Part 8 โ Children
Information about all your children
List all of your children
List every child โ biological, adopted, and step-children. Include children who live outside the US, children from previous relationships, and adult children. There is no minimum or maximum age.
Child support: If you have a court order to pay child support, you must be current on payments. Failure to pay child support can be considered a negative factor in the good moral character determination.
When you naturalize, some of your children may automatically become U.S. citizens under the Child Citizenship Act โ if they are under 18, are lawful permanent residents, and live with you. Ask an attorney if this applies to your children.
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Part 9 โ English and Civics
Language and test exemptions
Do you request an exemption from the English language requirement?
You may be exempt from the English test if you are over 50 and have been a permanent resident for 20 years (50/20 rule), or over 55 with 15 years (55/15 rule). If exempt, you may still take the civics test in your native language with a qualified interpreter you bring yourself.
Do you request a disability exception?
People with certain disabilities may request an exception to both the English and civics requirements by filing Form N-648 (Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions), completed by a licensed medical professional.
The 65/20 exception is different โ if you are 65 or older and have been a permanent resident for 20+ years, you take a shorter civics test (10 questions from a bank of 20, must answer 6 correctly). This site has a dedicated 65/20 study track.
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Part 10 โ Good Moral Character
The most important and most reviewed section
What is "good moral character"?
Good moral character is a legal standard that looks at your conduct over the 5-year period before your application. It does not require perfection โ but it requires honesty, law-abiding behavior, and no serious criminal history. USCIS reviews your answers to Part 10 very carefully and cross-checks them against criminal records, tax records, and other government databases.
The most important rule in this entire guide: Never answer "No" to a yes/no question in Part 10 if the true answer is "Yes" โ even if you think the incident was minor, expunged, or long ago. Misrepresentation is one of the most common reasons applications are denied. If you are unsure how to answer any question in Part 10, consult an immigration attorney first.
Have you EVER committed a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?
This is one of the most misunderstood questions on the N-400. "Yes" does not automatically disqualify you โ but lying about it does. Minor traffic violations (like speeding tickets) are generally not crimes you need to list. Shoplifting, drug use, assault, fraud, or other criminal acts โ even if never charged โ may need to be disclosed. When in doubt, ask an attorney.
DUI/DWI: Even a single DUI, dismissed charges, or arrests without conviction should be disclosed. Bring all court records related to any arrest or charge to your interview.
Have you filed your federal, state, and local taxes?
USCIS checks tax compliance. If you were required to file taxes but did not, this can affect your good moral character determination. If you have unfiled returns, work with a tax professional to file them before submitting your N-400. Bring copies of your tax returns for the past 5 years to your interview.
Tax documents to bring to your interview
Federal tax returns for the past 5 years (or transcripts from the IRS)
If you did not file because your income was below the filing threshold, be prepared to explain
If you owe back taxes, bring documentation of any payment plan
Have you ever failed to support your dependents?
If you have a legal obligation to pay child support or alimony, you must be current. Chronic failure to support dependents is a negative factor for good moral character. Bring proof of current payments if applicable.
Selective Service registration
If you are male, were between 18 and 25 years old at any point after 1980 while living in the US, and did not register for Selective Service โ this needs to be addressed before you apply. Failure to register when required is a bar to naturalization for men under 31. Men over 31 can still naturalize but must explain the failure. Check your registration status at sss.gov.
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Part 11 โ Affiliations
Organizations, groups, and associations
Have you EVER been a member of or associated with any organization, association, fund, foundation, party, club, society, or similar group?
List every organization you belong to or have belonged to โ professional associations, religious organizations, political parties, clubs, unions, and community groups. This is a broad question. Being a member of ordinary civic, religious, or professional organizations is completely normal and will not harm your application.
What USCIS is really looking for: Membership in organizations designated as terrorist organizations, totalitarian parties, or groups that advocate violence against the US government. Normal memberships in community, religious, or professional organizations are not a concern.
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Part 12 โ Continuous Residence
Oath of Allegiance exemptions
Do you request an exemption or modification of the Oath of Allegiance?
Most applicants take the full Oath of Allegiance. However, modifications are available for people with certain religious beliefs or disabilities. The oath includes a promise to bear arms for the US โ people with sincere religious objections to war may be able to take a modified oath. Speak with an attorney if this applies to you.
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Interview day โ what to expect
A walkthrough of the full naturalization interview
What happens at the interview?
The naturalization interview typically lasts 20โ30 minutes. Here is the general flow:
Typical interview order
1. The officer asks you to raise your right hand and swear to tell the truth.
2. The officer reviews your N-400 with you โ confirming your answers and asking follow-up questions.
3. The English test โ you read one sentence in English and write one sentence in English. (Exempt if you qualify.)
4. The civics test โ the officer asks up to 20 questions from the 128-question bank. You need 12 correct to pass.
5. The officer tells you whether you passed on the spot or need to come back.
2. The officer reviews your N-400 with you โ confirming your answers and asking follow-up questions.
3. The English test โ you read one sentence in English and write one sentence in English. (Exempt if you qualify.)
4. The civics test โ the officer asks up to 20 questions from the 128-question bank. You need 12 correct to pass.
5. The officer tells you whether you passed on the spot or need to come back.
What documents to bring
Bring your interview notice and a complete set of documents to be ready for anything the officer asks.
Always bring
Your interview appointment notice
Your green card (Permanent Resident Card)
Your passport (all passports from the past 5 years)
A copy of your N-400 application
Tax returns for the past 5 years
Bring if applicable
Marriage certificate (if applying under 3-year rule)
Divorce decree(s) for any previous marriages
Court records for any arrests or charges
Selective Service registration card
Military discharge papers (if applicable)
Your interpreter (if using the 50/20 or 55/15 language exemption)
The most common reason people fail their interview
It is not the civics questions. The most common problems are: not knowing what they wrote on their own N-400, being surprised by a question about travel history, or being unprepared for a question about a tax issue or old arrest. Read your N-400 again before your interview. Know every answer you gave.
Use the Am I Ready? checklist on this site to make sure you have covered everything beyond just the civics questions before your interview day.
Educational use only โ not legal advice. This guide provides general information about Form N-400 based on publicly available USCIS materials. It is not a substitute for advice from a licensed immigration attorney. If you have any uncertainty about your answers โ especially in Part 10 โ consult an attorney before submitting your application. Not affiliated with USCIS. Last updated May 2026. Privacy Policy ยท Terms of Use